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Morning News

Clinton Abandons Plans to Move Into Pricey Midtown Manhattan Office, Heads Uptown

Aired February 13, 2001 - 9:06 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Former President Clinton has abandoned his plans to move into a pricey office building in midtown Manhattan. Critics blasted Mr. Clinton over the more-than-$700,000-a-year rent. Now he may be about the join the latest Harlem Renaissance.

And our Maria Hinojosa joining us from New York, from the office building that, apparently, the former president is checking out.

Maria, good morning.

(TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN ANCHOR: ... today, and there have been Secret Service officials inside the building, preparing for that visit later this afternoon. But there have also been a long line of people who have been waiting to get in the building, African-Americans and Latinos who come here for services that this building has: the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Housing Administration -- some saying that the president will get a different view of Manhattan when he moves -- if he moves into this office building -- than if he would have been on west 57th Street, a much more posh neighborhood.

Some are concerned; some are excited.

One of those who is excited is Wilbur Hedges, who works in the building, at the Housing Authority.

Now, Wilbur, what makes you so excited about the president?

WILBUR HEDGES: Well, I think he would upgrade the community and bring a lot of businesses back to Harlem.

HINOJOSA: And are hoping that you run into him in an elevator.

HEDGES: Yes, I do.

HINOJOSA: What are you hoping that the former president takes away from the experience if he does in fact set up shop here?

HEDGES: Well, the stereotype about Harlem, that a lot -- it's a lot of good business here, and Harlem has always been a great city. I think the president -- former president -- will bring lot of positive impact when he comes. HINOJOSA: Thanks to you very much -- Wilbur Hedges, who works in this building.

Some have said that they hope that the president comes into contact with people who were not touched by the economic boom of the past few years. But at least in this neighborhood, there's been a tremendous amount of renovation. And someone is saying that this might be -- some people have said that this might be the ultimate gentrification if the president -- if the former president -- moves here, or moves his offices here. But already, the Magic Johnson movie theaters and Starbucks are waiting for him if he decides to come.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Maria, the president, former president, was taking so much heat over the midtown office space because it cost so much. Are we getting any word about what this one would cost, in Harlem.

HINOJOSA: The midtown office space would have been just over $700,000 a year. This would be about $210,000 a year, a big difference. $210,000 might have been unheard of for a rental space in Harlem, but because of the fact that this is going under so much renovation, it's now expected.

KAGAN: Great, Maria Hinojosa, thank you so much, reporting live from Harlem.

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